Portable terminal having touch screen and method for processing image therein

ABSTRACT

A portable terminal having a touch screen and a method for processing an image therein are provided. The portable terminal includes a camera unit for photographing an image, a touch screen for displaying the photographed image, a controller for generating, if a substantially continuous drawing motion is detected on the touch screen, a partial area in the displayed image according to the drawing motion, and a memory unit for storing the partial area of the displayed image. Accordingly, the portable terminal may more easily perform image photographing and editing, thereby increasing user convenience.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of a prior applicationSer. No. 14/635,626, filed on Mar. 2, 2015, which is a continuationapplication of a prior application Ser. No. 12/184,427, filed on Aug. 1,2008, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,970,760 on Mar. 3, 2015 andwas based on and claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of aKorean patent application filed on Nov. 5, 2007 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office and assigned Serial number 10-2007-0112068,the entire disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a portable terminal and a method forprocessing an image therein. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a portable terminal having a touch screen and a method forprocessing an image therein.

BACKGROUND

Portable terminals have evolved to perform a variety of functions, suchas multimedia functions. Multimedia functions that may be included in aportable terminal include a camera function, a Digital MultimediaBroadcasting (DMB) function and a Bluetooth communication function.

However, in the case of image photographing using a camera function of aportable terminal, an image stored in the portable terminal is limitedto a certain form and size, and thus, the stored image may need to beedited to change the form or size of the stored image. Therefore, theportable terminal should have separate functions of storing the imageand editing the stored image.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention is to address the above-mentionedproblems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is toprovide a portable terminal having a touch screen and a method forprocessing an image therein.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for processingan image in a portable terminal having a touch screen is provided. Themethod includes displaying an image on the touch screen, generating, ifa substantially continuous drawing motion is detected on the touchscreen, a partial area in the displayed image according to the drawingmotion, and storing the partial area of the displayed image.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method forprocessing an image in a portable terminal having a touch screen isprovided. The method includes displaying an image to be edited using thetouch screen, generating, if a substantially continuous drawing motionis detected on the touch screen, a partial area of the image accordingto the drawing motion, storing the partial area, and displaying anoverlaid image in which the stored partial area is overlaid onto anotherimage on the touch screen.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a portableterminal is provided. The portable terminal includes a camera unit forphotographing an image, a touch screen for displaying the photographedimage, a controller for generating, if a substantially continuousdrawing motion is detected on the touch screen, a partial area in thedisplayed image, and a memory unit for storing the partial area of thedisplayed image.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a portableterminal is provided. The portable terminal includes a touch screen fordisplaying an image to be edited, and a controller for controlling togenerate, if a substantially continuous drawing motion is detected onthe touch screen when displaying the image, a partial area of the imageaccording to the drawing motion, to store the partial image and todisplay an overlaid image in which the stored partial area is overlaidonto another image on the touch screen.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the portableterminal can selectively store an area having a desired format and sizewhen an image is photographed. Further, the portable terminal canselectively store an area having a desired format and size from aselected image when the image is edited. In addition, when an image isphotographed or edited, the portable terminal can store an overlaidimage in which at least two images are overlaid. Accordingly, theportable terminal can easily perform image photographing and editing.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of aportable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for processing an imageaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating another method for processing animage according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 4A to 4H illustrate examples of a screen displayed in performingthe image processing methods of FIGS. 2 and 3, according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the present invention as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. Also, detailed descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

In the following description, a “preview image” refers to an imagecaptured in a portable terminal prior to photographing. The capturedimage may then be photographed in the portable terminal but is notstored therein. An “edit image” refers to an image that is to be editedin the portable terminal. The edit image may be a preview image or animage previously stored in the portable terminal. An “overall area”refers to an area having the same format and size as the preview image.A “partial area” refers to a preset area within the preview image or theedit image in the portable terminal.

Further, a “touch” refers to a series of actions that may be executedwith a user's finger or a stylus by touching a touch screen. “Drawing”refers to a movement of a touch point of the user's finger or the styluson the touch screen representing an action of drawing a line along apath.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of aportable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The portable terminal may be provided as, for example, amobile phone or the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, the portable terminal 100 includes a camera unit110, an image processor 120, a touch screen 130, a memory unit 140 and acontroller 150.

The camera unit 110 is used for photographing image data and includes acamera sensor that converts an input optical signal into an analog imagesignal and a signal processor that converts the analog image signal fromthe camera sensor into digital data. The camera sensor may be embodiedas a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) sensor or the like. The signalprocessor may be embodied as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) or thelike. The camera sensor and the signal processor may be providedintegrally or separately.

The image processor 120 generates screen data for displaying an imagesignal output from the camera unit 110. The image processor 120processes the image signal output from the camera unit 110 in a frameunit and outputs frame image data to be suitable for the characteristicsand size of a display unit 131 of the touch screen 130. Further, theimage processor 120 includes an image coder/decoder (codec), andcompresses the frame image data displayed on the display unit 131 in apreset method or restores the compressed frame image data into theoriginal frame image data. The image codec may be a Joint PhotographicExperts Group (JPEG) codec, an Moving Picture Experts Group-4 (MPEG4)codec, or a Wavelet codec.

The touch screen 130 includes the display unit 131 and a touch panel133. The display unit 131 displays an image signal output from the imageprocessor 120 on a screen and displays user data output from thecontroller 150. The display unit 131 may be embodied as an LCD or thelike. When the display unit 131 is embodied as an LCD it may include anLCD controller, a memory for storing display data, and an LCD displayelement. The touch panel 133 is installed in the display unit 131 andincludes a touch sensor and a signal converting unit. When a touchoccurs, the touch sensor detects physical characteristics thereof, suchas at least one of resistance, electrostatic capacity and the like, todetect the touch. The signal converting unit converts a change in thephysical characteristics according to the touch into a touch signal.

The memory unit 140 includes a program memory and a data memory. Theprogram memory stores an operating program of the portable terminal 100and a program for processing an image using the touch screen 130according to an exemplary embodiment of the present embodiment.

The controller 150 controls overall operations of the portable terminal100. Further, the controller 150 includes a data processor including atransmitter for encoding and modulating a signal to be transmitted and areceiver for demodulating and decoding a received signal. The dataprocessor may be provided with a modem and a codec. Also, the controller150 receives a touch signal from the signal converting unit of the touchpanel 133 to detect a touch on the touch screen 130.

When an image is photographed by the camera unit 110, the controller 150processes the photographed image and controls to display thephotographed image on the touch screen 130. If a drawing motion isdetected on the touch screen 130 while displaying the photographedimage, the controller 150 generates a partial area in the displayedimage. The controller 150 then controls to store the image of thepartial area, and to store a position of the partial area with respectto the touch screen 130.

If an image is to be edited, the controller 150 processes the image andcontrols to display the image on the touch screen 130. If a drawingmotion is detected on the touch screen 130, the controller 150 generatesa partial area in the image, and controls to store a position of thepartial area with respect to the touch screen 130. Further, thecontroller 150 controls to generate an overlaid image by overlaying thepartial area onto another image, and displays the overlaid image on thetouch screen 130. The image onto which the partial area is overlaid maybe an image to be edited or the like. The controller 150 then controlsto store the overlaid image according to a storage request from theuser.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for processing an imageaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 4Ato 4C illustrate examples of screens displayed when performing the imageprocessing method of FIG. 2. Here, FIG. 4A illustrates a screen on whicha preview image is displayed. FIG. 4B illustrates a screen displayedwhen a partial area is generated. FIGS. 4C and 4D illustrate a screendisplayed when an image is stored.

Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 150 enters an image processing modein step S211, and displays a preview image through the display unit 131in step S213, as shown in FIG. 4A. That is, the controller 150 controlsthe camera unit 110 to capture an image and displays the captured imageas the preview image. If the controller 150 detects a touch through thetouch panel 133 in step S215, the controller 150 determines whether thetouch is a drawing motion in step S217. That is, the controller 150determines whether the touch generated on the touch panel 133 is anaction of drawing a line along a path.

If the controller 150 determines that the touch is a drawing motion, thecontroller 150 generates a partial area using the path of the drawing instep S219, as shown in FIG. 4B. For example, if the drawing path is afully enclosed curve, the controller 150 may generate the partial areafrom an inner area of the enclosed curve. Alternatively, if the drawingpath contacts at least two edges of the preview image displayed on thetouch screen 130, thereby bisecting the image, the controller 150 maygenerate the partial area from an area formed by the drawing path andthe edges of the preview image contacting the drawing path. The partialarea may be either of the two sections of the preview image. The partialarea may then be selected by the user, such as by a touch, or mayautomatically be selected. Examples of an automatic selection of thepartial area from the two sections include selection of the smaller ofthe two sections, selection of a section comprising a detected face, andthe like.

If the controller 150 determines that a storage request is generated bythe user in step S221, as shown in FIG. 4C, the controller 150 storesthe partial area of the preview image in step S223, as shown in FIG. 4D.For example, if a touch is detected in the partial area, the controller150 may recognize the touch as a request for storage. The controller 150then stores the partial area of the preview image displayed on the touchscreen 130 in the memory unit 140. The controller 150 also detects aposition of the partial area with respect to the touch screen 130 andstores the position corresponding to the partial area.

If the controller 150 determines that the touch is not a drawing motionin step S217, the controller 150 determines whether the touch is arequest for storage in step S225. If the touch is a request for storage,the controller 150 stores the overall area of the preview image in stepS227. For example, if a touch is detected in the entire area of thepreview image, the controller 150 may recognize the touch as a requestfor storage. The controller 150 then stores the overall area of thepreview image displayed on the touch screen 130 in the memory unit 140.

If the touch is not a request for storage at step S225, the controller150 performs a corresponding function in step S229. For example,according to an input by the user, the controller 150 may edit a storedimage by changing the format and size thereof. Alternatively, thecontroller 150 may change a position of the stored image on the touchscreen 130 corresponding to the partial area.

Finally, the controller 150 determines whether image processing is to beterminated in step S231. If the controller 150 determines that imageprocessing is not to be terminated, the process returns to step S213 andthe controller 150 displays a preview image. If the controller 150determines that image processing is to be terminated in step S231, thecontroller 150 terminates image processing.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating another method for processing animage according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. FIGS. 4A to 4H illustrate examples of screens displayed whenperforming the image processing method of FIG. 3. Here, FIG. 4Aillustrates a screen on which a preview image is displayed. FIGS. 4B and4F illustrate screens displayed when a partial area is generated. FIGS.4C, 4D and 4G illustrate screens displayed when an image is stored.FIGS. 4E and 4H illustrate screens on which an overlaid image isdisplayed.

Referring to FIG. 3, steps S311 to S329 in the image processing methodof the present exemplary embodiment are similar to steps S211 to S229,respectively, of the image processing method of FIG. 2. Accordingly, adetailed description thereof will be omitted for conciseness.

Next, according to the image processing of the present exemplaryembodiment, after the controller 150 stores the partial area of thepreview image in step S323, the controller 150 determines whether apreviously stored partial area exists in the memory unit 140 in stepS331.

If a previously stored partial area does not exist, the controller 150generates an overlaid image in which the newly stored partial area isoverlaid onto the currently captured preview image in step S333, asshown in FIG. 4E. That is, the controller 150 displays the preview imageand displays the partial area stored in step S323 overlaid onto thepreview image. Further, the controller 150 may display another previewimage captured by the portable terminal and display the partial areastored in step S323 overlaid onto the preview image, as shown in FIG.4E. At this time, if a position of the corresponding partial area on thetouch screen 130 is stored, the controller 150 displays the storedpartial area at the corresponding stored position.

If the controller 150 detects a touch in step S337, the controllerdetermines if the touch is a request to terminate image processing instep S339. If no touch is detected in step S337, the process returns tostep S331. If the touch is determined not to be a request to terminateimage processing in step S339, the process returns to step S317, and thecontroller 150 determines whether the touch is a drawing motion in stepS317. That is, the controller 150 determines whether the touch generatedon the touch panel 133 is an action of drawing a line along a path.

If the controller 150 determines that a previously stored partial areaexists in the memory unit 140 in step S331, the controller 150 createsan overlaid image in which the previously stored partial area and thenewly stored partial area are overlaid on the preview image, anddisplays the new overlaid image on the touch screen 130 in step S335, asshown in FIG. 4H. That is, the controller 150 displays the preview imageand displays the stored partial areas overlaid on the preview image.Here, if the respective positions of the partial areas are stored withthe corresponding partial area image in the memory unit 140, thecontroller 150 may display the stored partial areas at theircorresponding positions with respect to the touch screen 130.

Next, the controller 150 determines whether a touch is generated throughthe touch panel 133 in step S337. If a touch is generated, thecontroller 150 determines whether the touch is a request to terminateimage processing in step S339.

If the controller 150 determines that the touch is a drawing motion instep S317, the controller 150 generates a partial area using the drawingpath in step S319, as shown in FIG. 4F. For example, if the drawing pathis a fully enclosed curve, the controller 150 may generate the partialarea from an inner area of the enclosed curve. Alternatively, if thedrawing path contacts at least two edges of the overlaid image displayedas the preview image on the touch screen 130, thereby bisecting theimage, the controller 150 may generate the partial area from an areaformed by the drawing path and the edges of the preview image contactingthe drawing path. The partial area may include at least some of thepreviously stored partial area. The partial area may be either of thetwo sections of the preview image. The partial area may then be selectedby the user, such as by a touch, or may automatically be selected.Examples of an automatic selection of the partial area from the twosections include selection of the smaller of the two sections, selectionof a section comprising a detected face, and the like.

Next, if the controller 150 determines that a storage request isgenerated by the user in step S321, as shown in FIG. 4G, the controller150 stores the partial area of the displayed overlaid image in stepS323. For example, if a touch is detected in the partial area, thecontroller 150 may recognize the touch as a request for storage. Thecontroller 150 then stores the partial area of the displayed overlaidimage in the memory unit 140. The controller 150 also detects a positionof the partial area with respect to the touch screen 130 and stores theposition corresponding to the partial area.

If the controller 150 determines that the touch is not a drawing motionin step S317, the controller 150 determines whether the touch is arequest for storage in step S325. If the touch is a request for storage,the controller 150 stores the overall area of the displayed overlaidimage in step S327. For example, if a touch is detected in the overallarea of the overlaid image, the controller 150 may recognize the touchas a request for storage. The controller 150 then stores the overallarea of the overlaid image displayed on the touch screen 130 in thememory unit 140.

Thereafter, the controller 150 determines whether a touch is generatedthrough the touch panel 133 in step S337, as described above.

Finally, if a touch is generated through the touch panel 133 in stepS337, and the controller 150 determines that the touch is a request toterminate image processing in step S339, the controller 150 terminatesimage processing. If the touch is not a request to terminate imageprocessing in step S339, as described above, the controller 150 mayrepeatedly perform steps S317 to S339 until a request to terminate imageprocessing is generated.

The above-described embodiments illustrate examples in which a portableterminal processes an image captured by a camera unit, however theinvention is not limited thereto. For example, the portable terminal mayprocess an image previously stored in a memory. For example, whenentering into an image editing mode, the portable terminal may controlthe camera unit or may retrieve data stored in a memory to display animage to be edited on a touch screen. Then, the portable terminal maygenerate a partial area in the image and store the partial area of thecorresponding image. Also, the portable terminal may display an overlaidimage in which the stored partial area is overlaid onto another editimage. Further configurations are similar to the above-describedexemplary embodiments, and thus, detailed description thereof isomitted.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, theportable terminal can selectively store an area having a desired formatand size when an image is photographed. Further, the portable terminalcan selectively store an area having a desired format and size from aselected image when the image is edited. In addition, when an image isphotographed or edited, the portable terminal can store an overlaidimage in which at least two images are overlaid. Accordingly, theportable terminal can easily perform image photographing and editing.

While the present invention has been shown with reference to certainexemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for processing an image in a portable terminal, the method comprising: displaying a preview image from a camera sensor; detecting a touch input on a touch screen while the preview image is displayed on the touch screen; in response to identifying that the touch input is a capture input, capturing an image data from the camera sensor corresponding to the preview image; in response to identifying that the touch input is a drawing input for defining a partial area of the preview image, capturing an image data from the camera sensor corresponding to the partial area of the preview image; displaying the captured image data corresponding to the partial area on the touch screen; and in response to a storage input on the touch screen, storing the captured image data corresponding to the partial area in a memory.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a cancel input on the touch screen and again displaying the preview image on the touch screen while the preview image is currently being detected by the camera sensor.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch input comprises a drawing input on the touch screen while displaying the preview image.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the drawing input on the touch screen comprises a drawing input path that substantially encloses the partial area of the preview image.
 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the drawing input on the touch screen comprises a touch path that bisects the preview image from an edge of the preview image to another edge of the preview image, and wherein at least one of the bisected preview image portions comprises the partial area.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage input is received on the touch screen within the partial area.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a storage input is automatically generated based on a feature of the partial area.
 8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the cancel input is received on the touch screen outside of the partial area.
 9. The method according to claim 2, wherein cancellation is automatically generated based on a feature of the partial area.
 10. The method according to claim 4, wherein the partial area of the preview image is confirmed in response to releasing the drawing input from the touch screen.
 11. A portable terminal comprising: a memory; a camera sensor; a touch screen; and at least one processor configured to control to: display a preview image from the camera sensor, detect a touch input on a touch screen while the preview image is displayed on the touch screen, if the touch input is identified as a capture input, capture image data from the camera sensor corresponding to the preview image, if the touch input is identified as a drawing input for defining a partial area of the preview image, capture image data from the camera sensor corresponding to the partial area of the preview image, display the captured image data corresponding to the partial area on the touch screen, and in response to a storage input on the touch screen, store the captured image data corresponding to the partial area in the memory.
 12. The portable terminal according to claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control to receive a cancel input on the touch screen and again display the preview image on the touch screen while the preview image is currently being detected by the camera sensor.
 13. The portable terminal according to claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to detect the touch input in response to a drawing input on the touch screen while displaying the preview image.
 14. The portable terminal according to claim 13, wherein the drawing input on the touch screen comprises a drawing input path that substantially encloses the partial area of the preview image.
 15. The portable terminal according to claim 13, wherein the drawing input on the touch screen comprises a touch path that bisects the preview image from an edge of the preview image to another edge of the preview image, and wherein at least one of the bisected preview image portions comprises the partial area.
 16. The portable terminal according to claim 11, wherein the storage input is received on the touch screen within the partial area.
 17. The portable terminal according to claim 11, wherein a storage input is automatically generated based on a feature of the partial area.
 18. The portable terminal according to claim 12, wherein the cancel input is received on the touch screen outside of the partial area.
 19. The portable terminal according to claim 12, wherein cancellation is automatically generated based on a feature of the partial area.
 20. The portable terminal according to claim 11, wherein the camera sensor includes a Digital Signal Processor.
 21. The portable terminal according to claim 14, wherein the partial area of the preview image is confirmed in response to releasing the drawing input from the touch screen.
 22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store one or more computer programs including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to control to: display a preview image from a camera sensor; detect a touch input on a touch screen comprising a capture input to capture the preview image or a drawing input for forming a partial area of the preview image; in response to identifying that the touch input is the drawing input for defining a partial area of the preview image, capture image data from the camera sensor corresponding to the partial area of the preview image in response to the drawing input being released from the touch screen; display the captured image data corresponding to the partial area on the touch screen; and in response to a storage input on the touch screen, store the captured image data corresponding to the partial area in a memory.
 23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to control to receive a cancel input on the touch screen and again display the preview image on the touch screen while the preview image is currently being detected by the camera sensor. 